Fsk keying system embodying phase coherence



Nov. Z4, 1964 R. R. STONE, JR

`FSK KEYING SYSTEM EMBODYING PHASE COHERENCE Filed Sept. 28, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent O FSE The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates in general to pulse communication lsystems operating in the VLF range, and in particular to such systems embodying frequency shift keying.

'lhs reliability of low and very low frequencies for long distance communication has been repeatedly demonstrated since the inception of radio communication. A is Well known in the art, communication at such frequencies is not greatly susceptible to the effects of solar disturbance and consequent ionospheric storms. Also, the increased skin depth in semiconductors at such frequencies permits transmission to submerged stations.

With the 'advent of supersonic aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles, the pressing need for more emcient and reliable use of the low end of the radio spectrum has become increasingly more evident and has given rise to communication systems in which close frequency control is required.

lt is generally recognized that frequency shift laeying alfords optimum time utilization of signal transmission and that it is desirable to employ this type of keying in most pulse coded communication systems.

Prior to the introduction of the FSK systems described and claimed in copending applicating Serial No. 226,924 entitled Narrow Band PSK System Employing Stabilized Frequency Control which was tiled in behalf of l. R. Stone, lr. on August 3l, i962, phasing ditiiculties have greatly retarded the adaption of frequency shift keying to VLF applications, es ecially in thc Jiol-7 applications where a precise selected phase relationship between stations is a critical requirement. ln particular, unwanted sidebands which develop due to phasing discontinuity at the time of switching have presented a maior obstacle to the adaption of FSK to many VLF applications. While the system described in the above-mentioned copending application has alleviated much of the difdculty encountered utilizing the prior art, it will be appreciated that the fast acting bistable switching means and associated circuitry of the system described therein is not especially adapted to compensate for mechanical switching difficulties which may arise.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved frequency shift heying means adaptable for use in narrow band VLF applications.

It is la further obiect of this invention to provide an FSK system wherein keying arc-over is minimized. Y Other lobjects of the invention will become apparent upon va more comprehensive understanding of the invention to which reference is had to the following specifica.- tion and drawing wherein:

The ligure illustrates a block diagram of the frequency shift keying means of this invention in a VLF embodiment of the type described in the above-mentioned copending application.

Br-ieiiy, the device of the invention is a positive action, frequency shift keying means embodying a phase correction means of the boot strap variety wherein the extent of deviation controls the extent of Vcorrection. Referring now to the drawing,

3,l5,8l@ Patented Nov. 24, 1964 Fice The ligure is directed to a preferred embodiment of the FSK means of this invention wherein means are provided for monitoring and comparison of the outputs of the two frequency sources il and 12 having output frequencies f1 and f2 respectively. In the depicted embodiment monitoring and comparison is provided subsequent to multiplication by factor x of the output frequencie it will lbe appreciated, of course, that it is within the purview of this invention to .provide for monitoring and comparison prior to multiplication by factor x, if desired, or to so provide subsequent to multiplication by a factor greater or lesser than x, by multiplication means not shown lin the drawing, if warranted.

in accordance with the teaching in the above-mentioned copending application, the two frequency sources ll yand l2 'are each connected to bistable switching means 2l by la respective frequency multiplier means wherein the output frequency is multiplied by -a factor x, such as 4. The bistable switching means 2l is controlled by means, discussed in detail hereinafter, such that it is operative in response to pulse keying, for example.

The output of bistable switch means 21, alternately 4f1 Iand 4f2, is applied -by lampliiier 3l and limiter 32, for example, to locked oscillator divider means 33. Locl; d oscillator `divider means 33 may be any conventional or otherwise oscillator divider means which will instantaneously lock in its input signal to the nearest point of phase. For example, the locked oscillator divider means 33 may be of the conventional Hartley or Colpitts variety, if desired.

ln the illustrative embodiment of this ligure, the output of locked oscillator means, alternately f1 or f2, feeds oscillator 34 by means of cathode follower 3S, phase detector 37 which is also connected to the output of oscillator 34 by a cathode follower 3o, and time constant means 33. it will be appreciated that phase detector 37, time constant means 38, yand the oscillator 3d form a servo control-led system which electively lengthens the time period of the instantaneous phase correction provided by lookin oscillator 33. The output of oscillator 34 is applied to the 'antenna 4l by a cathode follower 42 and output arnplilier 43.

lt will be appreciated, of course, that the specific servo controlled oscillator disclosed in the embodiment is not criti ai to the invention and that a wide variety of means for spreading transient time over a selected period may be substituted, if desired. For exam-ple, if linear control is notre uired, a narrow band ass filter mifr1 t be substituted for the servo controlled oscillator.

Furthermore, while it has been found to be desirable to employ a servo con rolled oscillator 345, or the like, for most applications of the invention, it will be appreciated that in other applications, for example, where the factor x is large and the optimal correction by oscillator 33 is small, it is within the purview or" this disclosure to delete the oscillator 34 entirely and to apply the output of locked oscillator divider 33 to the antenna 4l.

The monitoring and comparison means of the system of this invention comprises mixer 51, zero-crossing detector E2, pulse circuit 53, pulse forming and delaymeans 54, gating means 55 and 56, phase shift means S7, and means for controlling the phase shift means 57, in this embodiment, the motor 5g and motor controller means 5%, together with bistable switch means el which is actuated to pass or prevent passage of the output of set signal source 62 as required.

n operation of the monitoring and comparison means, zero detector 52 is connected to pulse circuit 53 which produces a spike pulse signal indicative of a zero cross- .'ing, that is, a periodicin-phase relationship between the outputs of the standard signal sources il and l2. it will be appreciated that zero-crossing detector 3 Y may be a relatively simple device. which alerts eithe by the initiation or the discontinuation of a selected signal. For example, detector 52 may be a bistable deviceV of the Schmitt Trigger Circuit variety, if desired. Y

Likewise, pulse forming and delay means 54 may be a bistable hip-flop device of the Schmitt Trigger Circuit variety which incorporates a built-in time constant and is responsive to positive or negative input pulses whereby a pulse output having a constant pulse width is obtained for each transition of bistable switch means 61. It will be appreciated thatrin general, the pulse width of the output of pulse forming means 54 should be slightly greater than the period between zero crossings. Usually, of course, multiplication of the output frequencies of sources 11 and 12 insures the existence of this pulse width relation.

Gating means 55 may be a conventional AND gate in which two simultaneous inputs are required to obtain an output. In a preferred embodiment, the output of pulse forming means 54, having an outputpulse slig tly wider than the output pulse of pulse circuit 53, effectively opens the gate for a selected period during which the output of pulse circuit 53 is permitted to pass. Alternatively, of course, gating means 55 may incorporate output pulse generating means actuated by the simultaneous occurrence of the outputs of pulse circuit 53 and pulse forming means S4.

Gating means 56 is connected in cascade with set signal source 62 and bistable switch 61 to control bistable switch 21 upon actuation of gating means 55 by the output of Vgating means 55 such that operation of bistable switch 21 occurs at a zero-crossing point.

In'accordance with the invention, the output of pulse forming and delay means 54 and the output of gating means 55 are applied also to motor control means 59 which is adapted to adjust the phase of the output of one of the standard signal sources 11 and 12, as required, by means of motor 58.

It will be appreciated'that motor control means 59 may be any means compatible with the motorSS. For example, motor control means 59 may be a D.C. voltage supply adapted to apply a D.C. Voltage of gradually increasing level and'of selected polarity on signal from pulse forming means 54 in the absence 0f a signal from gating means 55. Y Y Y Thus the above described circuitry provides for automatic phase adjustment of one of the frequency sources 11 or 12 to insure that the mark and space frequencies are in phase and that the gating of gate 56 is synchronized in a xed relationtherewith. tion, for a shift of cycles, a zero crossing (an irl-phase condition) will occur at each -,O second org20 milliseconds. involved, a zero crossing will occur at each of 5 milliseconds. 'Thus the amount of correction to insure synchronization of the FSK keyer is minimizedV and the ,invention enables positive keying at the zero point.

Y solid-state device,'for example, might be employed to cause an incremental delay variation.

vFurther, it is understood that various modifications well known in the art may be incorporated in the device of this invention in conventional manner, if desired. VIn

particular, selected signal monitoring equipment may be incorporated and may be utilized as required for compen- Y sation purposes either by manual or automatic correction.

Finally, it is understood that the device of this invention is Y only t0 be limited 'by .the scope of therclairns appended hereto, Y Y

In a typical. opera- Y If a multiplication-division factor of 4 is What is claimed is:

1. Frequency shift keying means comprising first and second frequency sources which provide signal outputs at first and second frequencies, respectively; first bistable gating means having at least rst and second inputs and at least one output, said rst bistable gating means passes signals applied to said iirst and second inputs in alternate order and including control means for controlling the operational state thereof; first-and second frequency multiplier means connecting the outputs of said rst and second frequency sources to said first and second inputs, respectively, of said first bistable gating means and each multiplying said signal outputs by the same selected numerical factor x; output utilization means; frequency divider means connecting the output of said rst bistable Y gating means to said output utilization means and divid-i ing by same said selected numerical factor x; frequency mixer means connected to said first and second frequency sources to combine the outputs thereform; rst pulse generating means connected to said frequency mixer means to generate a spike pulse signal coincident with each periodic in-phase relation between the outputs 0f said first and second frequency sources; set pulse signal source means for energizing said control means of said first bistable gating means, said control means comprising second bistable gating means and third gating means connected in cascade to provide a signal path between said set signal source and said iirst gating means; second pulse generating means responsive to change in operational state of said second bistable gating means, and operated thereby to producev an output pulse of selected width; AND gate means providing an output pulse in response to coincident input pulses; means connecting the outputs of said first and second pulse generating means to the inputs of'said AND gate means; phase shifting means connected to one of said first andrsecond frequency sources to shift the phase of the output thereof, said phase shifting means including control means; means connecting the output of said second pulser generating Y means, respectively.

Vf/'control meansactuating said alternategating meansy 3. Frequency shift keying means as dened in claim l pulse generating means is greater than the period between spike pulses inthe output of said iirst pulse generating means. l Y

4. In aV frequency shift keyerrincluding constant factor frequency multipliers, the outputs yofwhich are alterphasecorrection circuit comprising: Y Y

zero-crossing detecting means receiving andcornparing the signals to be keyed by said alternate vgating means,

nately gated to a constant factor frequency divider, a

said zero-crossing detecting means providing an output pulse atreach in-phase coincidence of said signals to be keyed; Y f vtime delay means providing a constant width'output pulse for each input pulse received; Y an AND gate, said AND gate VYproviding an output upon the coincidence of input'signals from said time delay means and said zero-crossing detecting means;

upon receiptof an output signal from said AND gate and simultaneously Y time delay meauSf providing an inputV pulse to said and-phase shiftAmeanscoanected to said AND gate and to said time delay means, said phase shift means to adjust the phase of one of said signals to be keyed in a direction determined by the dierence between the signals supplied to said phase shift means by said AND gate and said time delay means,

whereby said signals to be keyed are in phase and in 6 synchronization with the actuation of said alternate gating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATES PATENTS 3,031,527 4/62 Barton et al. 178-66 DAVID G. REDNBAUGH, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN A FREQUENCY SHIFT KEYER INCLUDING CONSTANT FACTOR FREQUENCY MULTIPLIERS, THE OUTPUTS OF WHICH ARE ALTERNATELY GATED TO A CONSTANT FACTOR FREQUENCY DIVIDER, A PHASE CORRECTION CIRCUIT COMPRISING: ZERO-CROSSING DETECTING MEANS RECEIVING AND COMPARING THE SIGNALS TO BE KEYED BY SAID ALTERNATE GATING MEANS, SAID ZERO-CROSSING DETECTING MEANS PROVIDING AN OUTPUT PULSE AT EACH IN-PHASE COINCIDENCE OF SAID SIGNALS TO BE KEYED; TIME DELAY MEANS PROVIDING A CONSTANT WIDTH OUTPUT PULSE FOR EACH UNPUT PULSE RECEIVED; AN AND GATE, SAID AND GATE PROVIDING AN OUTPUT UPON THE COINCIDENCE OF INPUT SIGNALS FROM SAID TIME DELAY MEANS AND SAID ZERO-CROSSING DETECTING MEANS; CONTROL MEANS ACTUATING SAID ALTERNATE GATING MEANS UPON RECEIPT OF AN OUTPUT SIGNAL FROM SAID AND GATE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING AN INPUT PULSE TO SAID TIME DELAY MEANS; AND PHASE SHIFT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID AND GATE AND TO SAID TIME DELAY MEANS, SAID PHASE SHIFT MEANS TO ADJUST THE PHASE OF ONE OF SAID SIGNALS TO BE KEYED IN A DIRECTION DETERMINED BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIGNALS SUPPLIED TO SAID PHASE SHIFT MEANS BY SAID AND GATE AND SAID TIME DELAY MEANS, WHEREBY SAID SIGNALS TO BE KEYED ARE IN PHASE AND IN SYNCHRONIZATION WITH THE ACTUATION OF SAID ALTERNATE GATING MEANS. 